Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display element

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition formed by combining a polymerizable compound represented by formula I with a specific liquid crystal component, particularly a PSVA liquid crystal composition for displays or TV applications and a PSA-IPS liquid crystal composition for an IPS mode, and a liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display comprising this liquid crystal composition; in particular, the polymerizable compound has a faster polymerization rate, and a “material system” formed from the selected polymerizable component and liquid crystal component should have the lowest rotary viscosity and the best photoelectric properties, and has a high VHR after (UV) photoradiation, this avoiding the problem of the occurrence of residual images to final displays.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the liquid crystal display field, and in particular relates to a liquid crystal composition formed by combining a specific polymerizable compound and a specific liquid crystal component and a liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display comprising the liquid crystal composition.

BACKGROUND ART

Thin film transistor liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCDs) have undergone a long period of basic research, and after realising large-scale production and commercialisation, thin film transistor liquid crystal displays have become mainstream products in LCD applications due to the advantages of light weight, being environmentally friendly, high performance, etc., thereof: the application of TFT-LCD can be seen everywhere whether in small-sized mobile phone screens, large-sized notebook PCs or monitors or in large-sized liquid crystal televisions (LCD-TV).

Early commercial TFT-LCD products basically relate to using a TN display mode, and the largest problem thereof is a narrow viewing angle. With the increase in product size, especially the application in the TV field, an IPS display mode and a VA display mode, which have the characteristic of a wide viewing angle, have been sequentially developed and applied; in particular, based on the improvement of the VA display mode, the breakthrough development thereof has been achieved successively in major companies, which mainly depends on the advantages of a wide viewing angle, a high contrast, no need for frictional alignment, etc., of the VA mode itself; furthermore, the contrast of the VA mode display is less dependent on the optical anisotropy (Δn) of the liquid crystal, the thickness of the liquid crystal cell (d) and the wavelength (λ) of the incident light, which will necessarily make the VA mode become a very promising display technique.

However, the liquid crystal medium used in an active matrix addressing mode display element for the VA mode, etc., itself is not perfect; the defects, for example, the residual image level is significantly worse than that of a positive dielectric anisotropic display element, the response time is relatively slow, and the driving voltage is higher. At this point, some new types of VA display techniques have quietly emerged: for example, a PSVA technique realises a wide viewing angle display mode similar to that of MVA/PVA, and also simplifies a CF process, such that the aperture ratio is increased while lowering the CF cost; furthermore, a higher brightness is obtained, thereby obtaining a higher contrast. In addition, since the liquid crystal of the entire panel has a pretilt angle, there is no domino delay phenomenon, a faster response time can also be obtained while maintaining the same drive voltage, and the residual image level will also not be affected; however, due to Fine Slit densely distributed electrodes in pixels, if the electrode width cannot be evenly distributed, the problem of uneven display can easily occur. Like a UVVA technique, on the basis of keeping the advantages of the PSVA technique, since there is no Slit structure on the TFT side, the problem of display unevenness caused by uneven pixel electrode width is also improved. Although the display device is continuously developing, people are still always devoted to studying new liquid crystal compounds, such that liquid crystal media and the performances of display devices in which the liquid crystal media are used can continuously advance forward.

Polymerizable mesogenic units (RMs) are currently a very popular and important topic in the display industry, and possible application fields thereof include polymer stabilized alignment (PSA) liquid crystal display, polymer stabilized blue-phase (PS-BP) liquid crystal display, pattern retarder films, etc.

The PSA principle is being applied to different typical LC displays such as PSA-VA, PSA-OCB, PS-IPS/FFS and PS-TN liquid crystal displays. Taking the most widely used PSA-VA display as an example, the pretilt angle of the liquid crystal cell can be obtained by a PSA method, and the pretilt angle has a positive effect on the response time. For PSA-VA displays, standard MVA or PVA pixel and electrode designs can be used; however, if a specially patterned design is used the electrode design on one side and no protrusion design is used on the other end, the production can be significantly simplified while the display is imparted with a very good contrast and a very high light transmittance.

It has been found in the prior art that LC mixtures and RMs still have some disadvantages in applications in PSA displays. First, so far not every desired soluble RM is suitable for use in PSA displays; in addition, if it is desired to carry out a polymerization by means of a UV light without the addition of a photoinitiator (which may be advantageous for some applications), the choice becomes narrower; furthermore, a “material system” formed from an LC mixture (hereinafter also referred to as an “LC host mixture”) in combination with the selected polymerizable component should have the lowest rotary viscosity and the best photoelectric performance for increasing the “voltage holding ratio” (VHR) to achieve effects. In terms of PSA-VA, a high VHR after irradiation using a (UV) light is very important; otherwise, the problems of the occurrence of residual images to the display, etc., may be finally caused. So far, not all combinations of LC mixtures and polymerizable components are suitable for PSA displays. This is mainly due to the effects in the aspects of the UV-sensitive wavelength of polymerizable units being too short, or no tilt angle or an insufficient tilt angle occurring after light irradiation, or the polymerizable component having a poorer homogeneity after light irradiation, or the VHR after UV is lower for TFT display applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition formed by combining a specific polymerizable compound with a specific liquid crystal component, particularly a PSVA liquid crystal composition for displays or TV applications and a PSA-IPS liquid crystal composition for an IPS mode, and a liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display comprising this liquid crystal composition; in particular, the polymerizable compound has a faster polymerization rate, and a “material system” formed from the selected polymerizable component and liquid crystal component should have the lowest rotary viscosity and the best photoelectric properties, and has a high VHR after (UV) photoradiation, this avoiding the problem of the occurrence of residual images to final displays.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned beneficial technical effects, the present invention provides a liquid crystal composition comprising one or more polymerizable compounds represented by formula I as a first component, one or more compounds represented by formula II as a second component, and one or more compounds represented by formula III as a third component:

wherein

P₁, P₂ and P₃ each independently represent

R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or a fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8, and any one or more unconnected CH₂ in the groups represented by R₃ and R₄ may be substituted with cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropyl; Z₁ and Z₂ each independently represent a single bond, —CH₂CH₂- or —CH₂O—;

each independently represent

each independently represent one or more of

m represents 1 or 2; and

n represents 0, 1 or 2;

o represents 0 or 1;

and any benzene ring in the compounds represented by formula I may be a halogen- or alkyl-substituted benzene ring.

said one or more polymerizable compounds represented by formula I are preferably one or more compounds represented by formulas I-1 to I-12; said one or more compounds represented by formula II are preferably one or more compounds represented by formulas II-1 to II-15; and said one or more compounds represented by formula III are preferably one or more compounds represented by formulas III-1 to III-12:

wherein R₃ and R₄ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or a fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8, and any one or more unconnected CH₂ in the groups represented by R₃ and R₄ may be substituted with cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropyl.

For displays using these liquid crystal compositions, after a compound represented by formula I is added to an LC medium and the LC medium is introduced into an LC cell, pre-tilting of liquid crystal molecules can be formed by means of UV photopolymerization or crosslinking under the application of a voltage between electrodes. This is advantageous for simplifying the LCD manufacturing process, increasing the response speed, and reducing the threshold voltage.

The compound represented by formula I provided by the present invention has the advantages of a good intermiscibility with other monomers, a good ultraviolet resistance, etc. As a reactive mesogen (RM), it has the advantages of a good intermiscibility, a high charge holding ratio (VHR), a high polymerization activity (less monomer residue), etc., and is very suitable for use as an RM for PSA (polymer supported alignment) and PS (polymer stabilized) mode liquid crystal mixtures, especially in the case of PSA-VA and PSA-IPS.

The amount (in mass percentage) of the polymerizable compound of formula I added to the liquid crystal composition is preferably between 0.01% and 1%, further preferably between 0.03% and 0.2%.

The amount (in mass percentage) of the compound represented by formula II added to the liquid crystal composition is preferably between 15% and 60%, further preferably between 20% and 40%.

The amount (in mass percentage) of the compound represented by formula III added to the liquid crystal composition is preferably between 20% and 60%, further preferably between 30% and 50%.

Said liquid crystal composition may be a negative liquid crystal composition, and may comprise one or more compounds represented by formula IV:

wherein R₅ and R₆ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or a fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8, and any one or more CH₂ in groups R₅ and R₆ may be substituted with cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropyl;

and W represents 0, S or —CH₂O—.

The compound represented by formula IV is preferably

each R₆₁ independently represents an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-6.

Said liquid crystal composition may further comprise one or more compounds represented by formula V

wherein R₇ and R₈ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or an fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8; and

and

each independently represent 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-cyclohexenylene.

The compound represented by formula V is preferably

wherein R₇₁ and R₈₁ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-6 or an alkenyl group having an atom number of 2-6;

R₈₂ represents an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-5; and

R₇₁ and R₈₁ are more preferably vinyl, 2-propenyl or 3-pentenyl.

said liquid crystal composition is a negative liquid crystal composition, and further comprises one or more tetracyclic compounds represented by formula VI:

wherein R₉ and R₁₀ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or an fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8; and

represents 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-cyclohexenylene;

and each (F) independently represents H or F. The compound represented by formula VI is preferably

wherein R₉ and R₁₀ each independently preferably represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-6 or an alkenyl group having an atom number of 2-6;

To the liquid crystal compound of the present invention, various functional dopants may be further added, wherein the contents of the dopants are preferably between 0.01% and 1%, and these dopants are mainly an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber and a chiral agent.

The antioxidant and the ultraviolet absorber are preferably:

S representing an integer of from 1 to 10.

The present invention further relates to a liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display comprising any liquid crystal composition mentioned above. wherein said display element or display is an active matrix display element or display or a passive matrix display element or display.

Said liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display is preferably an active matrix addressing liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display.

Said active matrix display element or display is specifically a PSVA-TFT or IPS-TFT liquid crystal display element or display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is further described in conjunction with particular examples below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. Said methods are all conventional methods, unless otherwise specified. Said raw materials are all commercially available, unless otherwise specified.

The reaction process is generally monitored through TLC, and the post-treatments after the reaction is completed are generally water washing, extracting, combining organic phases and then drying, evaporating and removing the solvent under a reduced pressure, recrystallization and column chromatographic separation; and a person skilled in the art would be able to achieve the present invention according to the following description.

In the present specification, the percentages are mass percentages, the temperatures are in degree Celsius (° C.), and the specific meanings of other symbols and the test conditions are as follows:

Cp represents the clearing point of the liquid crystal (T_(CL)), as measured by means of a DSC quantitative method;

S-N represents the melting point (T_(m)) for the transformation of a liquid crystal from a crystal state to a nematic phase;

Δn represents optical anisotropy, n_(o) is the refractive index of an ordinary light, n_(e) is the refractive index of an extraordinary light, with the test conditions being: 25±2° C., 589 nm and using an abbe refractometer for testing;

Δε represents the dielectric anisotropy, Δε=ε_(∥)ε_(⊥), wherein the ε_(∥) is a dielectric constant parallel to a molecular axis, and ε_(⊥) is a dielectric constant perpendicular to the molecular axis, with the test conditions being: 25±0.5° C., using 20 micron parallel cells, and using INSTEC: ALCT-IR1 for testing;

γ1 represents a rotary viscosity (mPa·s), with the test conditions being: 25±0.5° C., using 20 micron parallel cells, and using INSTEC: ALCT-IR1 for testing; and

ρ represents an electrical resistivity (Ω·cm), with the test conditions being: 25±2° C., and the test instruments being a TOYO SR6517 high resistance instrument and an LE-21 liquid electrode.

VHR represents a voltage holding ratio (%), with the test conditions being: 20±2° C., a voltage of ±5 V, a pulse width of 10 ms, and a voltage holding time of 16.7 ms. The test equipment is a TOYO Model 6254 liquid crystal performance comprehensive tester.

τ represents a response time (ms), with the test instrument being DMS-501 and the test conditions being: 25±0.5° C., a test cell that is a 3.3-micron IPS test cell, an electrode spacing and an electrode width, both of which are 10 microns, and an included angle between the frictional direction and the electrode of 10°.

T (%) represents a transmittance, wherein T (%)=100%* bright state (Vop) luminance/light source luminance, with the test instrument being DMS501, and the test conditions being: 25±0.5° C., a test cell that is a 3.3-micron IPS test cell, an electrode spacing and an electrode width, both of which are 10 microns, and an included angle between the frictional direction and the electrode of 10°.

The conditions for the ultraviolet photopolymerization of the polymerizable compound involve using ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 313 nm and an irradiation light intensity of 0.5 Mw/cm²

In the examples of the invention of the present application, liquid crystal monomer structures are represented by codes, and the codes for ring structures, end groups and linking groups of liquid crystals are represented as in Tables (I) and (II) below

TABLE (I) Corresponding code for ring structure Ring structure Corresponding code

C

P

G

Gi

Y

Sa

Sb

Sc

TABLE (II) Corresponding code for end group and linking group End group and linking group Corresponding code C_(n)H_(2n+1)— n- C_(n)H_(2n+1)O— nO— —OCF₃ —OT —CF₂O— -Q- —CH₂O— —O— —F —F —CN —CN —CH₂CH₂— -E- —CH═CH— —V— —C≡C— —W— —COO— —COO— —CH═CH—C_(n)H_(2n+1) Vn-

C(5)-

C(3)-

EXAMPLES

Comparative Example 1 (RM)

Comparative Example 2 (RM)

Comparative Example 3 (RM)

Comparative Example 4 (RM)

Comparative Example 5

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CY-C(5)-O4 11 III PY-C(5)-O2 9 III COY-3-O2 12 III CCOY-3-O2 8 III CY-5-O2 10 II CC-3-V 20 II CC-3-2 29.75 RM RM-1 0.25

Example 1

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CY-C(5)-O4 11 III PY-C(5)-O2 9 III COY-3-O2 12 III CCOY-3-O2 8 III CY-5-O2 10 II CC-3-V 20 II CC-3-2 29.75 I I-2 0.25

Example 2

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CY-C(5)-O4 11 III PY-C(5)-O2 9 III COY-3-O2 12 III CCOY-3-O2 8 II PP-5-1 10 II CC-3-V1 15 II CC-3-2 10 IV Sa-C(5)1O-O2 5 V CCP-3-1 10 V CPP-3-2 9 I I-1 1

Example 3

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CCY-C(5)-O4 11 III CPY-C(5)-O2 9 III CCY-3-O2 12 IV Sa-C(3) 1O-O4 8 II PP-1-2V 10 II CC-3-V1 25 II CP-3-O2 5 V CLP-3-1 12 V CPP-3-O2 7.8 I I-3 0.2

Example 4

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CCY-3-O2 11 III CPY-3-O2 9 III PYP-3-O2 12 III CLY-5-O2 10 IV Sb-C(5) 1O-O4 8 II PP-5-1 10 II CC-3-V 25 II CC-3-2 5 V CCP-3-1 4.8 VI CPGIP-5-2 5 I I-4 0.2

Example 5

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CCY-3-O2 11 III CPY-3-O2 9 III PYP-3-O2 10 III CCOY-5-O2 10 III COY-3-O2 10 IV Sb-C(5) 1O-O4 10 II CC-3-V 20 V CCP-3-1 4.9 V CPP-V-1 5 VI CGPC-3-1 10 I I-5 0.1

Example 6

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CY-C(5)-O4 11 III PY-C(5)-O2 9 III COY-3-O2 12 III CCOY-3-O2 8 III CY-5-O2 10 II CC-3-V 20 II CC-3-2 29.75 I I-7 0.25

Example 7

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CY-C(5)-O4 11 III PY-C(5)-O2 9 III COY-3-O2 12 III CCOY-3-O2 8 II PP-5-1 10 II CC-3-V1 15 II CC-3-2 10 IV Sa-C(5)1O-O2 5 V CCP-3-1 10 V CPP-3-2 9 I I-8 1

Example 8

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CCY-C(5)-O4 11 III CPY-C(5)-O2 9 III CCY-3-O2 12 IV Sa-C(3) 1O-O4 8 II PP-1-2V 10 II CC-3-V1 25 II CP-3-O2 5 V CLP-3-1 12 V CPP-3-O2 7.8 I I-9 0.2

Example 9

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CCY-3-O2 11 III CPY-3-O2 9 III PYP-3-O2 12 III CLY-5-O2 10 IV Sb-C(5) 1O-O4 8 II PP-5-1 10 II CC-3-V 25 II CC-3-2 5 V CCP-3-1 4.8 VI CPGIP-5-2 5 I I-10 0.2

Example 10

Category Liquid crystal monomer code Content (%) III CCY-3-O2 11 III CPY-3-O2 9 III PYP-3-O2 10 III CCOY-5-O2 10 III COY-3-O2 10 IV Sb-C(5) 1O-O4 10 II CC-3-V 20 V CCP-3-1 4.9 V CPP-V-1 5 VI CGPC-3-1 10 I I-11 0.1

1. Conversion Rate of Polymerizable Compound

A polymerizable compound is added to a composition, and said polymerizable compound is consumed, due to polymerization, to form a polymer. The conversion rate of this reaction is preferably a large conversion rate. This is because: from the viewpoint of residual images, the residual amount of the polymerizable compound (the amount of the unreacted polymerizable compound) is preferably small.

Residual amount of Polymerizable compound polymerizable compound Conversion (0.5 wt %) (wt %) rate (Comparative Example 1) RM-1 0.42 16% (Comparative Example 2) RM-2 0.42 16% (Comparative Example 3) RM-3 0.41 16% (Comparative Example 4) RM-4 0.37 26% I-1 0.3 40% I-2 0.26 48% I-3 0.29 42% I-4 0.27 46% I-5 0.26 48% I-6 0.28 44% I-7 0.28 44% I-8 0.25 50% I-9 0.24 52% I-10 0.26 48% I-11 0.25 50% I-12 0.28 44%

2. Response Time

Mixtures prepared from various polymerizable compounds and liquid crystal compounds are injected into devices. After the polymeric compounds are polymerized by means of irradiation with ultraviolet light, the response times of the devices are measured. Where a mixture of a polymeric compound and a liquid crystal compound is not added, the response time is slow. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combination of the polymeric compound and the liquid crystal compound, referred to in the present invention, is effective in shortening the response time.

Response time Example (ms) Comparative Example 5 15.3 Example 1 11.0 Example 2 7.8 Example 3 10.1 Example 4 8.5 Example 5 9.0 Example 6 10.0 Example 7 9.8 Example 8 9.6 Example 9 8.5 Example 10 9.5

3. Reliability

Mixtures prepared from various polymerizable compounds and liquid crystal compounds are injected into test cells. After the polymeric compound is polymerized by means of irradiation with ultraviolet light, the voltage holding ratio (VHR) is measured under the conditions of ultraviolet light, high temperature, etc., and a highly reliable liquid crystal, i.e., having a high VHR (16.7 ms), is preferred. The highly reliable liquid crystal avoids the problem of the occurrence of residual images to final displays.

VHR (16.7 ms) Example (%) Comparative Example 5 99.0 Example 1 99.81 Example 2 99.90 Example 3 99.81 Example 4 99.93 Example 5 99.70 Example 6 99.81 Example 7 99.90 Example 8 99.81 Example 9 99.93 Example 10 99.70 

1. A liquid crystal composition, characterized by comprising one or more polymerizable compounds represented by formula I as a first component, one or more compounds represented by formula II as a second component, and one or more compounds represented by formula III as a third component:

wherein P₁, P₂ and P₃ each independently represent

R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or a fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8, and any one or more unconnected CH₂ in the groups represented by R₃ and R₄ may be substituted with cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropyl; Z₁ and Z₂ each independently represent a single bond, —CH₂CH₂— or —CH₂O—;

each independently represent

each independently represent one or more of

m represents 1 or 2; and n represents 0, 1 or 2; o represents 0 or 1; and any benzene ring in the compounds represented by formula I may be a halogen- or alkyl-substituted benzene ring.
 2. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, characterized in that in said liquid crystal composition, the total mass content of said one or more polymerizable compounds represented by formula I is 0.01-1%, the total mass content of said one or more compounds represented by formula II is 15-60%, and the total mass content of said one or more compounds represented by general formula III is 20-60%.
 3. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said one or more polymerizable compounds represented by formula I are one or more compounds represented by formulas I-1 to I-12; said one or more compounds represented by formula II are one or more compounds represented by formulas II-1 to II-15; and said one or more compounds represented by formula III are one or more compounds represented by formulas III-1 to III-12:

wherein R₃ and R₄ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or a fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8, and any one or more unconnected CH₂ in the groups represented by R₃ and R₄ may be substituted with cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropyl.
 4. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquid crystal composition is a negative liquid crystal composition, and further comprises one or more compounds represented by formula IV:

wherein R₅ and R₆ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or a fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8, and any one or more CH₂ in groups R₅ and R₆ may be substituted with cyclopentyl, cyclobutyl or cyclopropyl; and W represents 0, S or —CH₂O—.
 5. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquid crystal composition is a negative liquid crystal composition, and further comprises one or more compounds represented by formula V:

wherein R₇ and R₈ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or an fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8; and and

each independently represent 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-cyclohexenylene.
 6. The liquid crystal composition according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquid crystal composition is a negative liquid crystal composition, and further comprises one or more compounds represented by formula VI,

wherein R₉ and R₁₀ each independently represent an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkyl group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, a fluorine-substituted alkoxy group having a carbon atom number of 1-10, an alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, a fluorine-substituted alkenyl group having a carbon atom number of 2-10, an alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8 or an fluorine-substituted alkenoxy group having a carbon atom number of 3-8; and

represents 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-cyclohexenylene; and each (F) independently represents H or F.
 7. A liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display comprising the liquid crystal composition of claim 1, wherein said display element or display is an active matrix display element or display or a passive matrix display element or display.
 8. The liquid crystal display element or liquid crystal display according to claim 7, characterized in that said active matrix display element or display is a PSVA-TFT liquid crystal display element or display. 